The original trilogy of Star Wars films is known for its highly unique visual style and storytelling. The trilogy created by George Lucas has carved itself a special place in pop culture. Fans continue to enjoy discussing several aspects of the films, especially certain creative choices made by Lucas that did not sit well with them, such as the death of Boba Fett in Return of the Jedi.
During an interview, editor Duwayne Dunham revealed that he and other crew members protested against the creative choice during the production of Return of the Jedi. However, Lucas persisted with the choice, leading to the death of Boba Fett, something Lucas himself regretted later. Here is why the Return of the Jedi crew protested against George Lucas’ decision to kill off Boba Fett.
Star Wars Editor Duwayne Dunham Reveals Protest Against George Lucas’ Decision to Kill Off Boba Fett
Duwayne Dunham served as an assistant editor for the first two installments in the original Star Wars trilogy. Dunham was later made the co-editor for the final installment, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.
During an interview with the official Star Wars website, Dunham spoke about his experience of working on the film. Dunham revealed that he and some other members of the film’s production crew were against franchise spearhead George Lucas, killing off fan-favorite bounty hunter Boba Fett in the third installment.
“We kinda mounted a protest saying you can’t do that to Boba Fett! He’s deserving of more! But they threw him in… and as you know, fans have never let him die.”
Dunham made the above statement (via Den of Geek), explaining how the crew felt about Boba Fett’s death in Return of the Jedi.
The editor added that Lucas originally wanted Fett to be on the same level as Han Solo and everyone had high hopes for the character, especially because of his cool costume and persona. However, Lucas eventually decided to kill off Fett in the finale of the original trilogy.
George Lucas Later Admitted That He Regretted Killing Boba Fett
Despite deciding to kill off Boba Fett in Return of the Jedi, Lucas has admitted that he regretted the death scene, particularly because of how it was handled. During a segment for the film’s DVD commentary, Lucas stated the following:
“In the case of Boba Fett’s death, had I known he was going to turn into such a popular character, I probably would’ve made it a little bit more exciting.”
Lucas’ statement confirms that he always planned on killing off Boba Fett, implying that the crew’s protest was in vain. However, Lucas admitted that he regretted not making Fett’s death more exciting given the character’s popularity. Lucas also added that he contemplated showing Fett survive but opted against it.
Actor Temura Morrison played Boba Fett in the second season of The Mandalorian, which confirmed that Fett indeed survived the Sarlaac Pit in Return of the Jedi. Morrison has since made numerous appearances as the iconic character, most notably in the spin-off series The Book of Boba Fett.
The Star Wars films and spin-off shows are streaming on Disney+.
